Beelarong hosted a special event when members and guests gathered for the unveiling of The Birth of Buddha, a sculpture by noted Queensland artist Antone Bruinsma. The event was made possible by the generosity of Beelarong member Gareth Thomas who purchased the sculpture and donated it to the farm.
Speaking after the unveiling, Gareth highlighted the benefits of public art which included beautification, enrichment and enjoyment and building community cohesion.
Antone told members that The Birth of Buddha was carved from Helidon freestone in 1995. "At that time in my life, I was looking at various philosophical values and spiritual practices including meditations that I was comfortable with", he said. "With most of my sculptures, then and now, I would meditate before I started work and sometimes when I was finished for the day. Those meditations would focus on that particular theme of that sculpture. With The Birth of Buddha it was a natural process to express my meditative experience into a narrative sculptural form.
I wanted to avoid a personification of the Buddha and I felt the origin of Him being born from the eye of a lotus flower beautifully poetic and sculptural. The bowl symbolises love, and it’s an object that collects and receives and is also a place where it is fertile, indicated by the vine. The hands are in directive and receptive positions, to me symbolic of karma (and to some degree of yin and yang and the balances of life). The dual trunk form of the base symbolises the connection with Mother Earth and appreciation for her gifts.
I considered it inappropriate to sign this sculpture. I sincerely hope this sculpture will be enjoyed for many years in the Beelarong community gardens."
Gareth said the purpose of the sculpture was to provide thoughtful and thought-provoking art in a peaceful place, to be embraced and appreciated by the members and the many visitors to the farm.
The plinth for the artwork was built by Ken Holzheimer after Bill Peoples cleared the site. It is also a water feature with a solar powered pump circulating water which flows out through one of the sculpture’s outstretched hands.
Beelarong President Dave Tucker extended his sincere thanks to Gareth for his generous donation. "Positioned down the path from the York Street entrance, the artwork induces a sense of reflection and contemplation that deeply complements the natural beauty of this part of the farm," he said.